Go on show me your bike packing bike

[jameso]

How do you find those Forks James? I fancy a set and have a lead on a jones diamond but the owner suggests they may be very harsh, overly so.
Not that I can find any steel ones, and the Ti ones are well out of my budget. As for map cases, I use an Ortleib one that has the two holes on the top edge. I just have a couple of loops of shock cord that I thread through the hole, put the end around the bars and cinch the cord grip down on the cord, works fine. I could maybe get a picture up tomorrow if you can't visualise it.

Uh Oh. Don't get me started on Jones-praise.. : ) The frame and forks are stiff, yet the bike isn't harsh to ride. Weird combo, I love it. The ride position gives you more ability to deal with bumps than any 'give' in a fork apart from a 100mm sus fork could and the stiffness makes riding techy stuff with a load on a lot more fun for me. I get on some other bikes now and tbh they feel noodly and hard to control. Stiff chassis, good ride position and bigger rims+tyres is a better way to do it I think. If you can try one, do. If you take a gamble on a SH one, you won't lose much / anything selling it on. (edit to add, I do generally prefer a relatively stiff bike for tracking and stability, so if you like a soft ti bike feel you'll find a steel Jones a bit of a wake-up jolt. The ti spaceframe is about as flexible as I like and that's fairly stiff in torsion for a ti bike)
Ta for map holder tip - that would work and be adaptable. Maybe some MYOG bodgery due.

[InspiredRamblings]

Hoping to officially launch the Jones bar bag (as yet unnamed) and the Lioness front pocket at Bespoked in April.

Definitely interested in one of these (Jones bar bag). Any images of what they might look like?

[jameso]

I use a Revelate pocket on the front of my drybag (in a Wildcat Mountain Lion). It is a bit of a faff if you don't use a Revelate Harness/ Sweet Roll as you have to put those extra velcro wraps on the bars in order to provide the clips for the Pocket, which take up a bit more real estate and can be a bit fiddly to attach / remove. Works ok though and doesn't bounce too much. In fact I find the pocket straps help to support / stabilise the drybag. I have then used a map case which, when folded in half got stuffed between the Pocket and the top of the drybag. Tucked in nice and deep it didn't move.

Thanks. I have a Revelate harness (not roll) but the Pocket seems to need its own straps - unless it's just the versions I have (old harness, newer pocket). Couldn't see a way to integrate the straps as they're in different positions, spaced further out on the Pocket. Seems daft but there's probably a good reason I missed.

[InspiredRamblings]

Thanks. I have a Revelate harness (not roll) but the Pocket seems to need its own straps - unless it's just the versions I have (old harness, newer pocket). Couldn't see a way to integrate the straps as they're in different positions, spaced further out on the Pocket. Seems daft but there's probably a good reason I missed.

Oh, weird. I know that there are two different types of clips - when you order a harness now you have to specify whether you have the old or new pocket clips. But I'm surprised that your pocket won't attach at all... The pocket attachment straps/clips on the new harnesses are apparently removable... but I don't know about the older ones. Hum.

[jameso]

Just had a look on the Revelate site, see what you mean now. My harness is a really old one, just a pc of fabric and 2 straps, works well as the Jones fork means I don't need anything to keep the roll off the headtube. I think it pre-dates the Pocket. All works ok though.

[Gari]

Hi Jameso, you have the sling rather than the harness. I have one of each, the harness being really old(like 5-6 yrs) and still going strong. The sling I find not so useful, a bit too unsurportive but ok if its a really light bag like spare clothes for a day ride or a very light sb/shelter combo. inspiredramblings is right re the loops, no fixings on the sling at all.
Again I made my own with a couple of the velcro straps that thread back through themselves, like the old Zefal pump straps(assuming your old enough to remember them!) which doubled as the fixing for the sling itself. Uses less space on the bars and is easier to tension than ladder lock type straps.
Cheers for the Jones thing, I know your a fan, but figured you have done enough riding/designing etc to know what you like rather than just getting on the "Jones" train.
You can obviously replace "Jones" with whatever current Zietgeist you prefer 650+ anyone?

[Taylor]

Andy has the clips in stock it would appear,
http://www.backcountrybiking.co.uk/prod ... ket-clips/

[Mart]

[quote="Gari"]I fancy a set and have a lead on a jones diamond but the owner suggests they may be very harsh, overly so.
quote]

You werent talking to the 'Bothy Bikes' folks were you?
I had a test drive of the frame they had in the shop (Senior moment: cant remember if it was a diamond or a space frame now) and they gave me the same 'harsh' comment
Felt like a little kid again, going round and round the carp ark, bouncing up and down kerbs
I liked the direct very tight response from the truss fork, no wallowing

[jameso]

Gari, got it, you're right I have the sling. It's not much more than my old myog bar-roll strap but works for my bike. Was looking at it last night and a new sling-shape piece with some different loops would work well with the Pocket. Waiting to see the Wildcat loop-bar bag first tho.. a better solution all round I hope.

[gairym]

Here are my bikepacking bikes (none are specifically for bikepacking but all were bought with it in mind):

Cotic 'Soul' (now resides in the UK for when I'm there as it seemed daft to sell it for so little money when it could live on and save having to cart a bike back and forth to Blighty when we visit):



Cotic 'Solaris' (main bikepacking and/or XC bike):



Salsa 'Mulkuk' (fatty which conveniently fits all of my luggage):



Am itching to get out again soon as the weather is now warming up a bit!

[Gari]

@Mart, they have the space frame rather than the diamond, lovely green it is too. The one I am looking at is a private sale.
@Jameso, I bought the sling as I thought it was the newer version of the harness I have, which it is kinda, same pattern but no stiffening. Couldn't tell from the photo on the website though! it was while he was designing the new harness, so it wasn't available then or I would have got that TBH. It may be ok on the road rat once thats finished.